NEWSLETTER MARCH 2021

Newsletter for ‘Keeping in Touch’ March 2021   Please note any news or information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle anytime; also if anyone has changed their email address or set up a new one could they please let Jan know. Also, in this time of isolation, if anyone feels in need of a chat, please feel free to ring Jan or Bob (numbers above) any time.

 

Branch meetings and monthly lunches.   We do not expect to resume branch activities until government guidelines and restrictions allow us to.

 

Branch subs    There are still a few people who have not paid their subs for 2020. The committee have decided that all members who have paid their subs this year are exempt for 2021 to compensate for the lack of branch meetings and activities. Please support the branch by paying the outstanding amount of £17 either by internet banking or cheque made out to REA Bournemouth.  For bank account details please contact John Cusack on 01202 517804. 

 

Messages from John Cusack

Subject to the situation at the time, safety and if it goes ahead, I would like to go up to London for the AGM/annual dinner and Sapper Sunday in October. Anybody that wishes to go and would like to stay overnight at the Victory Services Club, please let me know as soon as possible so that I may book the rooms. We do not have to pay for the rooms until the day and I am able to cancel up to 24 hours before. It’s a great weekend, worth the trip.

 Royce Fripp  I received a letter from Royce before Christmas telling me that he had been ill for some time. I am pleased to say that I have been in contact and Royce is much better now. He unfortunately does not walk very well but is still mobile.

 John Carter is plodding on with his treatment, which does not make him feel on top of the world. He is keeping cheerful and is looking forward to the time when he can sit in the garden and have a good chinwag with friends.

 Our lunches, normally held at the RBL on the first Tuesday of the month, will not commence before May. We will of course await further guidance from the government.

Bob Hucklesby

It is with very great sadness that we report the passing of our oldest member, Bob Hucklesby, on Friday 26th February at the age of 100. He was taken to hospital on the Thursday after feeling unwell and passed peacefully away with his daughter in law by his side. We send our sincere condolences to his family and to his many friends. He will be sorely missed by all in the

Bournemouth REA.  The funeral was held at Poole Crematorium on 18^th March at 2pm with family and close friends only, which included Bert and Dot Martin and Bob Perry.  Maurice Pearson displayed the standard and 4 REA members were invited to provide a socially distanced Guard of Honour outside the crematorium. The service was conducted by the FEPOW Chaplain.

Bob joined the army in May 1939 and in WW2 served in the 18th Division, Royal Engineers, part of the Home Forces, and finished up in the 560th Field Company. Sent to Singapore, after several detours, he was in the fall of Singapore and taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was a POW for 3 years.  Later in life he was made Chairman of the National FEPOW (Far East Prisoner of War) Fellowship Welfare Remembrance Association, and met Queen Elizabeth 2^nd and Prince Charles after he helped organise the 70th anniversary commemorations for VJ Day in 2015. 

Bill Marklew, sadly Bill has lost his wife Joan who passed away on 27^th February after a long illness. We send our kind thoughts and many condolences to him and his family.

 

Answers to Famous Sids Quiz	Answers to General quiz
1 British Gas	1 32	11 Mongolia
2 Sid Vicious	2 A Comedy of Errors	12 Toby
3 Sidney James	3 Arctic Ocean	13 Anchor
4 Sid Snot	4 Harpo Groucho Zeppo Chico	14 Palindrome
5 El Cid	5 Elephant (22months)	15 New Zealand
6 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome	6 Lizard	16 Leonardo Da Vinci
7 Hissing Sid	7 969 years	17 Humming Bird
8 Sidney Sheldon	8 Uranus	18 Ringo & Paul
9 Sidney Poitier	9 Australia	19 Empty Orchestra
10 Sidney Carton	10 Lower	20 6